The scene inside was chaotic and the soldiers looked weak. Fearing an ambush, they meticulously scouted the area for an entire day and night before returning to report. Immediately, the entire army was given the order to begin the siege.
The two Wolf Generals immediately launched a direct assault on the city gates, the most heavily guarded point. From both the inside and outside, in less than a day, both city gates were flung wide open. Each gate had five layers, built in a Gourd-style configuration—a progressively narrowing passage with alternating wide and narrow sections, which was extremely favorable for defense. Soldiers moving between the two walls would feel confined, almost unable to evade, and a single rolling boulder would mean certain death.
When the White Guard Demon Wolf General burrowed up from beneath the earth through the tunnels, the victory was already clear; no further assistance was needed.
Meanwhile, the Black Guard Divine Hound King continued to explore the labyrinthine tunnels to penetrate the third wall, but he mysteriously vanished. Following him, the Fire Wolf General also disappeared into the maze. However, the Wolf King merely assumed these two generals were tenacious warriors who refused to fall, and that they were "enjoying themselves" in the underground tunnels, showing not an ounce of worry.
Finally, the majestic Wolf King advanced inside, mounted upon his Three-Headed Spirit Hound. This Spirit Hound possessed human-level intelligence, having been specially trained by the Fire Wolf General, causing it to evolve into an exceptionally large beast with two extra heads on the left and right. Since it was too large to fit into the basement levels, the Fire Wolf General had left it behind for the Wolf King to use as a mount. The hound itself was rather simple-minded; despite having a Core Formation cultivation base, it knew no special skills, only how to breathe fire, spray oil, and attack with its massive body and sharp fangs.
The Wolf King strode through the massive gates—wide enough to accommodate 50 men standing shoulder-to-shoulder—and fell into contemplation. He gazed at the densely packed, beautiful, and incredibly luxurious houses being looted by his soldiers. An indescribable fondness shone in his eyes; this truly was a place worthy of the name Golden Palace, Jade Mansion. The walls and bricks were all covered in gold, making his soldiers greedy to pry every piece out. Every utility item was a refined masterpiece, crafted from precious, multi-colored jade; even the plant pots were made of jade. Sandalwood filled the air, used so abundantly for structural columns that it was like a forest. Fragrant essential oils were everywhere, and all kinds of exotic and beautiful birds and beasts were present, making it a place a hundred times more splendid than his own palace.
The palace maids and consorts of the Jewel Kingdom's King were also breathtakingly beautiful. Every woman, from the tea-servers and cleaners to the handmaidens, was a beauty. Their bodies constantly exuded a subtle, intoxicating fragrance. Their skin was smooth; some were fair, yellow, blue, red, or brown-skinned, but each possessed her own unique charm. Beyond being carefully selected girls, they had to spend a year being prepped for service—cared for from their skin, hair, and fingers; taught how to eat and speak; and nourished with rare herbs, bathed in skin-whitening solutions, put through exercise, and hundreds of other routines before being allowed to meet the King.
Behind the King's palace was the entertainment area. As the Wolf King entered, he found an artificial lake filled with fine wine and warm food, where a huge banquet was still underway. The Wolf King saw the obese Jewel Kingdom King Qi lying naked and asleep next to the artificial lake. Surrounding him were countless beautiful girls, scantily clad in alluring, revealing outfits. The space was decorated entirely with precious jade, gold, and silver, from the water glasses to the serving plates and cutlery. The dining table, also made of jade and decorated in the shape of dragons and phoenixes, was laden with countless exquisite dishes, presented in the forms of dragons, phoenixes, and other mythical creatures, ten times more lavish than the front section of the palace.
The sight alone intoxicated the Wolf King, who had been forced to live in cramped, cold, and deprived conditions for months. He woke the Jewel King with a smack on his fleshy rear, then had the King, along with the princes and officials, imprisoned. The Wolf King laughed and said, "Haha, you certainly know how to indulge."
The Wolf King then took the King's place and began to eat, drink, and make merry. Several of his generals followed suit, luxuriating in the opulence and splendor.
The Wolf King became so deeply immersed in the luxury that he completely lost track of time. In the blink of an eye, more than 10 days had passed. The Wolf King had now been in the Jewel Kingdom’s Capital for nearly a month.
News had spread across the entire Jewel Kingdom. The smaller vassal states, formerly subordinates of the Jewel King, were half-believing and half-doubting the reports. They had never imagined this could happen, and even if the Wolf King had attacked, he shouldn't have been able to take the Capital so quickly. Normally, no less than ten Grand Generals, all of renown, would be defending the Capital. But they recalled that most of the Grand Generals had volatile tempers, so the King had either executed them, sent them to hard labor, or exiled them to the borders.
Gradually, survivors who escaped and relayed the situation made them begin to believe and prepare to mobilize their troops. Yet, they were reluctant to depart immediately due to the King's unpredictable temper. They feared that after successfully rescuing the Capital, the King might accuse them of slow relief and have them executed. Thus, they dragged their feet on mobilizing, citing the cold winter season as the reason for the extensive preparation time. They deliberately waited to see who would march first, ensuring they would follow later for safety. That way, any penalty would be lighter, plus they didn't know the full combat strength of the Wolf King's army and needed a leader to take the initiative.
The Wolf King remained in the Capital much longer than his initial plan. The snow gradually melted, and signs of spring began to appear. The Jewel Kingdom's army in the Capital had been nearly wiped out by the Wolf King’s forces; those who escaped fled into the underground city. Meanwhile, the Wolf King’s soldiers in the Capital began indulging in free looting and revelry, and their combat effectiveness severely declined. The generals grew worried and wanted to advise the Wolf King to withdraw, but no one dared to speak up. Anyone who tried to stop him was cursed and driven away.
Even the loyal generals and the Elite Guard were chased off for daring to interfere. For days, the Wolf King was drunk, his mind muddled and incapable of making decisions. Previously, the Black Guard Divine Hound King was always by his side, and the Wolf King would listen to his words, but now there was no one to stop him. The White Guard Demon Wolf General offered a few words but was driven out by the Wolf King, causing him to become furious and refuse to see the Wolf King again until he sobered up.
Only Huyen Anh continued to stay, not to stop the Wolf King, but to join the King's party. They talked a great deal. On one occasion, Huyen Anh asked:
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"In your opinion, what kind of king is the Jewel King Qi?"
The Wolf King immediately replied: "Haha, he's a pig who only knows how to eat and indulge all day. Excessive indulgence has made his mind as stupid as a pig's! Haha!" After saying this, the Wolf King took a large drink of wine.
Huyen Anh then asked: "And what about you?"
The Wolf King laughed: "I am a shrewd old wolf, standing on the mountain peak, gazing at the beautiful world. Hmph hmph, haha."
Huyen Anh smiled: "I didn't ask about the you from before. I'm asking about the you now—are you a powerful old wolf or a gluttonous old pig?"
The Wolf King, fueled by the wine, angrily drew his sword and slashed across Huyen Anh's back. But it was only an afterimage, vanishing just as the blade swept past. Huyen Anh stood in another spot, his voice still polite: "Sir, you are drunk. You cannot catch me."
The Wolf King, with a Core Formation cultivation base, wielded the Wind Wolf Treasure Sword. A casual swing of his blade unleashed a Wind Cleave, capable of severing anything within his line of sight. He possessed the ability to fly and leap like a bird, instantly closing the distance to any opponent. In the past, he was known as the Silver Flash of the Wolf Nation, the dread of countless foes. He and the Black Guard Divine Hound King had been known as the Thunder Wind Twin Killers, conquering the White Wolf region, unifying the minor states, and becoming the leader of the Wolf Nation Alliance.
But now, facing a mere scholar with no weapon in hand, the King’s sword could not even graze the hem of his robe. His flying sword missed its mark, and when the Wind Cleave swept through, Huyen Anh’s figure simply dissolved. If the King had been sober, he would have instantly realized these were mere Clone Techniques, none of them real. In his state of inebriation, he instead slashed the precious jade throne in half, causing him to cry out and lament, “Oh, my throne! My treasury!” The soldiers who heard this were instantly disgusted, as it was the Dragon-Carved Throne of the Jewel Kingdom, not a Wolf King's throne.
Furious, the Wolf King dared not use magic anymore. Instead, he ordered several hundred soldiers to capture Huyen Anh so he could execute him, but they achieved nothing; they could not even touch the hem of Huyen Anh's robe. The Wolf King ran back and forth, sweating profusely as if he had bathed. His drunkenness gradually receded, and the calm cunning of the old wolf slowly returned.
The Wolf King roared, “Stop!” then smashed the wine cup in his hand and yelled, “Call the Black Guard Divine Hound King for me! Where is my good brother?” A man reported, “He is still in the underground levels.”
The Wolf King began to feel uneasy, his head throbbing: “What time is it now?”
Another soldier reported, “Sir, it’s early spring now.”
The Wolf King said in alarm, “What?! It’s that late already? Summon the Tinh Ve Minh and the Diviners here immediately! Calculate the time for retreat at once!”
The Wolf King pointed his sword at Huyen Anh: “And you! You dared to mock and play tricks on me while I was drunk, did you?”
Huyen Anh bowed his head and said, “Yes, my Lord.”
The Wolf King still looked angry, but he said: “Reward Huyen Anh with two chests of gold.” He then told Huyen Anh, “Stay here and wait for me. Tell me everything that has happened. I need to sober up a bit.”
The Wolf King went to the back to bathe and drink hangover soup. There, he saw the colossal Three-Headed Hound crying. The Wolf King possessed the ability to hear the thoughts of animals (specifically Dogs, Wolves, or Wolf Beastmen). With Wolf Beastmen, this ability was even stronger; he could read their minds just by touching them. The Wolf King was startled as he read the hound’s thoughts and murmured, “The Fire Wolf General is dead? How is that possible?”
The Wolf King then sat and listened to the reports on the state of his army and was utterly dismayed. Everyone was focused on revelry and looting; their formations were nonexistent, and their combat strength had severely plummeted. In his drunken stupor, the Wolf King had even insulted his generals, making them resentful. The collapse was total, from top to bottom. The Wolf King immediately summoned his generals back and began distributing rewards to win back their favor.
They returned to their barracks to reorganize their soldiers. After a few days, the Wolf King gave the command: "All forces pack up! All forces prepare to return to the West Wolf Nation!"
On the way back, the armies of the Jewel Kingdom wanted to attack, but their King was in the Wolf King’s hands, so they were forced to let them pass. Every year, the Wolf King further coerced the Jewel Kingdom into paying heavy tribute in gold, silver, and precious jade, using the excuse of supporting the King and the princes. For many years thereafter, the Wolf Nation lacked for nothing.
Diary Entry: [Current Date]
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Event: The Wolf King successfully invaded the Capital of the Jewel Kingdom. The arrogance of the Jewel King led to the downfall of his kingdom. The prophecy has been fulfilled.
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Impact: A new era has begun, with the Wolf King becoming a major power. The relationship between the world's factions has shifted, creating both opportunities and risks for the main characters.
The Heavenly Scroll has collected and analyzed the notable flows of Merit in this event. Noe has the ability to use the "Eye of Merit" to view his own and others’ Merit.
The Heavenly Scroll has collected new data and updated the character files.
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Rat-People, Lizard-People, and Altered-Ones: These creatures dwell in the sewers beneath the Jewel Capital. They possess grotesque appearances and superior strength, capable of destroying an elite Wolf King army detachment.